TAPER

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tapor candle, wick, perhaps modification of Latin papyrus papyrus Date: before 12th century 1. a slender candle, a long waxed wick used especially for lighting candles, lamps, pipes, or fires, a feeble light, 2. a ~ing form or figure, gradual diminution of thickness, diameter, or width in an elongated object, a gradual decrease, II. adjective Date: 15th century progressively narrowed toward one end, furnished with or adjusted to a scale ; graduated , III. verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 1610 intransitive verb to become progressively smaller toward one end, to diminish gradually, transitive verb to cause to ~, IV. noun Etymology: 1tape Date: circa 1920 one that applies or dispenses tape